Toto Wolff, the team’s representative for Mercedes F1, believes that some teams have developed a technique to bend a specific area of the floor in violation of the rules, and the FIA (International Automobile Federation) has bent the floor of F1 cars. I am pleased to have taken measures regarding this.
Prior to the F1 Austrian Grand Prix weekend, the FIA announced a new technical directive on the Plankskid under the floor of F1 cars. Under current regulations, the FIA checks the floor at three specific points and those locations are not allowed to bend more than 2 millimeters.
However, after the F1 Belgian Grand Prix, the plank kid will be reinforced and the method of measuring wear will be clarified.
The change was initially planned to take effect at the F1 French Grand Prix, but was postponed after the F1 summer vacation.
Toto Wolff, the head of the Mercedes F1 team, explained why some teams continue to believe that what they are doing is not in line with current regulations.
“Some teams have skids that actually disappear when the car hits the bottom of the ground,” Toto Wolff said.
“The reason there is a skid is because of the limited amount of wear on the board. If the skid can miraculously disappear to the floor, it clearly violates the regulation.”
“Next, there are planks that can bend, or basically move beyond the permissible range.”
Regarding the potential benefits this could bring, Toto Wolff explained, “Tolerance is one millimeter. If Prince moves a few more millimeters into the car, obviously there will be some performance there as well.”
“I think the flexi floor will disappear for the first time at the Spa (Belgian Grand Prix).”
“The second will be revealed in next year’s regulations.”
Spa-Francorchamps has also implemented short-term measures to tackle the porpoising phenomenon, with long-term revisions being considered for the 2023 season.
Category: Category: F1 / Mercedes / F1 machine / FIA